WITH less than 24 hours to go, no-one still knows what will happen
tomorrow when tens of thousands of Orangemen congregate for their
traditional annual marches throughout Ulster.

The province is holding its breath, hoping for the best yet fearing
the worst.

Little else has been talked about all week. Cities and towns have
been cleared by 6 o'clock each evening; late night shopping has
been abandoned; hotels, guest houses and bars have been empty and people
have been terrified to leave their homes.

It's an all-too-common scenario for the beleaguered people of
Northern Ireland and one we hoped had gone forever after the jubilation
of the Assembly elections just a few weeks back.

Unfortunately our elation was short-lived.

On Tuesday night, I was working in Enniskillen and left for the
100-mile journey home at around midnight.

I can honestly say that it was the most eerie experience of my
life.

Although I was able to skirt most of the trouble spots, where roads
had been blocked or rioting was taking place, I felt very uncomfortable
and just a little frightened.

At one stage I thought I was the only car on the road and I drove
for mile after mile glued to the radio for updates on road closures.

I even phoned the police traffic line, set up especially for that
purpose.

As it happened, I encountered no problems at all and got home
safely.

You would think that after living through the troubles for 30
years, I would be used to such tense situations.

Somehow this was totally different.

No group can be proud of what has happened this week - neither the
Orange Institution nor the Garvaghy Road Residents' Group.

The uncompromising stance adopted by both has once again deflated
the hopes of the people and rekindled unhappy memories of the UUUC strike in the early 70s.

Orange leader David McNarry's veiled threat during the week
that they could paralyse Northern Ireland within hours was cruel and
provocative.

This so-called Christian community of ours celebrates the Sabbath
today at churches and chapels all over the province.

I would love to know what they will be praying for.

THE EUROPA

BLASTS BACK

TO THE TOP

ONE of the world's most famous hotels, the Europa in Belfast,
is back in the news this week and happily for all the right reasons.

General manager John Toner has just been named 1998 Manager of the
Year in the Caterer and Hotelkeeper Awards ceremony at London's
Grosvenor House Hotel.

John topped a list of 320, representing management from some of the
UK's best-known and most prestigious establishments.

Assessed by an international panel, he was given the award for his
operational, financial and management expertise, plus care and
commitment to customers and employees.

Not only is the award a great personal achievement for the
unflappable John but it also gives the Europa a timely boost in its
efforts to shake off its well-worn reputation as "the world's
most bombed hotel".

The Europa is owned by the Hastings Group and is just one of many
fine hotels controlled by the company.

Also in the Hastings stable is the Culloden, Northern
Ireland's only 5-star hotel, and Co Down's beautiful Slieve
Donard, situated literally where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to
the sea.

Over the years chairman Billy Hastings has invested millions, not
only in his hotels but in the future of Northern Ireland and its people.

Forget any impressions of the Europa you may have gleaned from old
news footage of the 70s and early 80s.

From the ground floor to the Presidential Suite, it has undergone a
total refurbishment programme and is easily our finest city centre
hotel.

As for the service, well that's now undisputed, thanks to the
skills and commitment of Hotel Manager of the Year, John Toner.

My part in a

new Viking

age of cash

pillaging...

BREAKING a champagne bottle against the side of a new boat is a
custom normally reserved for royalty or captains of industry.

However, next Saturday, yours truly will be afforded the privilege
when I help launch the first replica of a Viking longboat ever built in
Northern Ireland.

The official ceremony takes place in my home village of Ardglass
and I will be accompanied by a group of local children as the boat goes
into the water.

The Ardglass Vikings are a charitable organisation established
three years ago to raise money for the proposed new Northern Ireland
Children's Hospice.

More than pounds 3 million is required and the Vikings, who come
from all walks of life, are doing their bit.

This weekend they are in Peel in the Isle of Man for a Viking
festival.

For 1998, the Ardglass gang have secure generous financial
sponsorship from Peugeot NI, which will help them to provide activities
at events all over the North.

Throughout the winter the team spent hours designing and building
this longboat and the wraps were taken off last week.

It should be a wondrous sight on Saturday when the horned, helmeted
crew of 25 begin sea trials.

Not since the 10th Century will Ardglass have seen anything like
it.

Strange as it may seem, only female members of the crew have signed
up for burning and pillaging duties - but there's a full quota of
males for one other traditional Viking obligation!

Still, you would have to be from Mars not to realise that two of
this planet's greatest sporting shows are being staged today.

For the people of France it represents a dilemma. Should they tune
in to their world-renowned cycle race, which starts in Dublin today, or
watch their soccer team's historic appearance in the World Cup
finals?

Maybe I can ease their predicament because, as much as I hate
bringing bad news, the French will not be celebrating a win in either
competition.

I'm reliably informed that the cycling title is likely to go
to an Italian and it just isn't conceivable that the French will
outplay the Brazilians at soccer.

Two weeks ago I went to Marseilles to savour the World Cup and
watch the brilliant Brazilians in their match against Norway.

OK, I know they were beaten 2-1 but you have to remember that this
was the last game in the qualifying round and they were already assured
a place in the final 16.

Even in defeat they were a class above Norway and, believe me, if
Brazil had needed to win that night, they would have done so.

They'll win 3-1 tonight!

Hidden body of evidence

I WAS fascinated to hear that the body of a man who was killed
nearly 80 years ago had been found this week in County Galway.

Not only that but the Garda were able to put a name and occupation
to the skeleton.

Identified by his bones and various articles of clothing and
jewellery found in his makeshift coffin, the police came up with the
name Padraig Joyce.

Apparently Mr Joyce, headmaster of the national school in Barna, Co
Galway, around 1920, was shot dead by the IRA for being an informer.

He was murdered in October 1920 and buried in a wooden box in a
location unknown and unmarked.

Earlier this week Mr Joyce's skeleton was discovered by a
farmer working on bogland around the village.

Another skeleton was found in Co Antrim last month in a cupboard of
an old derelict house.

This time identification was made by a placard round the
skeleton's neck. It read: "Northern Ireland hide-and-seek
champion 1926!"

COPYRIGHT 1998 MGN LTD
No portion of this article can be reproduced without the express written permission from the copyright holder.